Mary Adshead

ARTIST

Adshead, Mary

1904 – 1995

Mary Adshead studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (1920’24)
under Henry Tonks (1862’1937), who in 1924 selected her for a
mural commission at Highways boys’ club in Shadwell, working
with Rex Whistler (1905’1944). 

She became a prominent muralist, creating decorations for
both public and private spaces, including the British Pavilion at
the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. She also illustrated several
books, such as The Little Boy and His House by Stephen Bone
(1904’1958) (whom she married in 1929), and made designs for
London Transport and the Post Office. 

As a noteworthy female artist, Adshead exhibited frequently
at the WIAC from the mid ‘1930s, before serving on their
committee in 1951. Working at a time when expectations of
women were still largely confined to issues of domesticity, her
prodigious professional output was noteworthy. Her approach to
mural painting ‘ especially in her choice of subjects and her colourful
palette ‘ challenged the perceived divisions which determined that
public and private spaces should necessarily be treated differently. She
was the subject of a retrospective at Liverpool Art Gallery in 2005.

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Mary Adshead

ARTIST

Adshead, Mary

1904 – 1995

Mary Adshead studied at the Slade School of Fine Art (1920’24)
under Henry Tonks (1862’1937), who in 1924 selected her for a
mural commission at Highways boys’ club in Shadwell, working
with Rex Whistler (1905’1944). 

She became a prominent muralist, creating decorations for
both public and private spaces, including the British Pavilion at
the 1937 Paris International Exhibition. She also illustrated several
books, such as The Little Boy and His House by Stephen Bone
(1904’1958) (whom she married in 1929), and made designs for
London Transport and the Post Office. 

As a noteworthy female artist, Adshead exhibited frequently
at the WIAC from the mid ‘1930s, before serving on their
committee in 1951. Working at a time when expectations of
women were still largely confined to issues of domesticity, her
prodigious professional output was noteworthy. Her approach to
mural painting ‘ especially in her choice of subjects and her colourful
palette ‘ challenged the perceived divisions which determined that
public and private spaces should necessarily be treated differently. She
was the subject of a retrospective at Liverpool Art Gallery in 2005.

+ Follow works by this artist
+ Share Artist

ARTWORK FOR SALE

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
A Good Answer

£925.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
An Unpleasant Surprise

£950.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
John’s House

£875.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Lucky Day

£975.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Evening Primroses in a London Garden

£875.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Livestock Market, (recto) Picking Tealeaves (verso), circa 1930

£3,500.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
The Little Boy and His House, 1936

£1,375.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Finnial decorations

£875.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Gladstone & Venus, 1931

£1,950.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
St Tropez, c. 1931

£2,500.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Have a Happy Christmas 1983

£195.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Lunette design for a school mural, 1930’s

£2,300.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Garison Lane Nursery Training School, circa 1930

£1,400.00

Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Farmers ploughing, Study for The World’s Food mural, c. 1942

£1,100.00

ARCHIVED WORKS

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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Portrait of a Woman Knitting
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
On the Beach
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
A Walk
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Tom The Sailor
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Late again!
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Honey Bears
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
The Gong
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
The Bone Family partaking in the Nativity, 1932
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Thatching a cottage roof, from The Little Boy and His House, 1936
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Fete champetre
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Christmas Greetings – houses in snow
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Christmas Card 1954
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
The First Bow And Arrow, circa 1928
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
A Greek Soldier, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
A Caravan Inn, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Looking Down The Road
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Romulus and Remus, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
The Great Wall of China, c. 1928, illustration for The House of History
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Still life with stripey table cloth, circa 1960
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Clown training a circus monkey and two horses, c. 1940
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Study for mural for tea room, Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire, c.1949
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Mary Adshead (1904 - 1995)
Portrait fragment – woman with hair dessed with olive leaves, circa 1930